Picture a flotilla of canoes and kayaks with paddlers all wearing their Cornell colors moving en masse up and down the Buffalo River on a sunny, summer morning and early afternoon. Register now to participate in the Cornell Club of Greater Buffalo's "Buffalo River Canoe Trip".

The Cornell Club of Greater Buffalo, in cooperation with the Cornell Outdoor Education and a grant awarded by the Cornell Alumni Association, is hosting a canoe trip on the Buffalo River on Saturday, July 9, 2011

Cost - $25 per person. ($10 per person if you bring your own canoe or kayak, paddles, and PFD). Registration deadline, July 1.

Registration (required!) - Phone the Cornell Outdoor Education front office, M-F, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, 607-255-6183. Payment by credit or debit card will be accepted. Program Coordinator, Rob Cook, can address questions or special needs.

Early registration is encouraged since the number of available canoes is limited. A maximum of 24 people can be accommodated with Cornell equipment, and some will have to trade-off sitting in the middle of a canoe, just "enjoying the ride". The number of "bring your own boat" registrations is also limited to 10 canoes or kayaks due to space and guide restrictions.

Pack a bag lunch to eat at the Ohio Street canoe launch site or plan to take the short walk for a quick meal and a beverage or two at the Swannie House (170 Ohio Street) before paddling back upstream to the Harlem Road launch site, arriving back at Harlem Road by no later than 3:00 PM.

Canoes, personal floatation devices and guides will be provided through Cornell Outdoor Education (unless participants elect to bring their own - all participants MUST wear appropriate life vests during the trip, even if they are using their own canoes or kayaks).

We'll meet at the Harlem Road canoe launch site by 9:30 AM and plan to be on the water by 9:45 AM. As a group, we'll paddle downstream to the Ohio Street canoe and kayak launch site where we will stop for lunch and a brief presentation. Along the way, local guides and club members will discuss some of the interesting riparian history and unique industrial architecture along with revitalization and restoration plans for this urban ecosystem and commercial and recreational corridor. A one-way option will be available for those paddlers who would prefer not to return to the Harlem Road launch site.

For a preview of the unique history, see: http://www.buffalohistoryworks.com/grain/location/location.htm

This will be a (light) rain or shine event with cancellation/postponement only in the event of unsafe weather conditions. Light snacks and water will be available during the tour.

The extreme weather alternate date will be Saturday, July 16th. Further details will be provided to registered participants.

For further information contact event chairperson, John Whitney - johnrwhitney@juno.com or cell phone (716) 796-3204.